a book
New Seeds of Contemplation
Thomas Merton · 2007 · 297 pages
Product Description
New Seeds of Contemplation is one of Thomas Merton's most widely read and best-loved books. Christians and non-Christians alike have joined in praising it as a notable successor in the meditative tradition of St. John of the Cross,
The Cloud of Unknowing, and the medieval mystics, while others have compared Merton's reflections with those of Thoreau.
New Seeds of Contemplation seeks to awaken the dormant inner depths of the spirit so long neglected by Western culture, to nurture a deeply contemplative and mystical dimension in our lives. For Merton, “ Every moment and every event of every man's life on earth plants something in his soul. Just as the wind carries thousands of winged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of these unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because men are not prepared to receive them: for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhere except in the soil of freedom, spontaneity, and love."
About the Author
Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was a writer, a mystic, a poet, a social activist and a Trappist monk at Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky. His writings include such classics as
The Seven Storey Mountain,
New Seeds of Contemplation, and
Zen and the Birds of Appetite. Merton is the author of more than seventy books, which include poetry, personal journals, collections of letters, social criticism, and writings on peace, justice, and ecumenism. He is considered one of the foremost spiritual guides of our times, and someone who pioneered interfaith dialogue and understanding and helped build Western understanding of mysticism and contemplation.
New Seeds of Contemplation is one of Thomas Merton's most widely read and best-loved books. Christians and non-Christians alike have joined in praising it as a notable successor in the meditative tradition of St. John of the Cross,
The Cloud of Unknowing, and the medieval mystics, while others have compared Merton's reflections with those of Thoreau.
New Seeds of Contemplation seeks to awaken the dormant inner depths of the spirit so long neglected by Western culture, to nurture a deeply contemplative and mystical dimension in our lives. For Merton, “ Every moment and every event of every man's life on earth plants something in his soul. Just as the wind carries thousands of winged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of these unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because men are not prepared to receive them: for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhere except in the soil of freedom, spontaneity, and love."
About the Author
Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was a writer, a mystic, a poet, a social activist and a Trappist monk at Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky. His writings include such classics as
The Seven Storey Mountain,
New Seeds of Contemplation, and
Zen and the Birds of Appetite. Merton is the author of more than seventy books, which include poetry, personal journals, collections of letters, social criticism, and writings on peace, justice, and ecumenism. He is considered one of the foremost spiritual guides of our times, and someone who pioneered interfaith dialogue and understanding and helped build Western understanding of mysticism and contemplation.
recommended by 1 person
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Glen Mazzara
“What a beautiful book. I'm not a devout Catholic but when you're raised in that tradition, its roots go deep. And I have a strange connection to Merton. I need to listen to this many more times to fully get it but for now, it was a break from the storm raging around me.”↗